Twitter Campaign for Detained Kuwaiti Activist

September 25, 2012
Abdul Aziz Bo Homaid was summoned for questioning by Kuwaiti authorities on September 19, 2012, one day after participating in an anti-government demonstration.  He is currently detained at the General Directorate of Criminal Investigations.

An officer whom Bo Homaid argued with at the demonstration filed a complaint the following day accusing Bo Homaid of offending the authorities. Bo Homaid filed his own complaint against the officer, but the Kuwaiti Authority has not followed up on his behalf.

Activists posted a Youtube video showing Bo Homaid arguing with another officer.  In the video they allege that the officer that filed the complaint against Bo Homaid used his government connections to avoid disciplinary actions and to punish Bo Homaid. Bo Homaid said in the video that he was exercising his legal right to protest under Kuwaiti law.

In support of Abdul Aziz Bo Haimad, online activists have created the hashtag: #الحرية_لعبدالعزيز_بوحميد (Freedom for Abdul Aziz Bo Homaid).  


In response, Saad Al Tami, a Kuwaiti journalist tweeted:
 
 
“Abdul Aziz Bo Homaid is a hostage and not a prisoner. A prisoner is jailed for a crime committed by him, but a hostage is captured for defending his homeland.”
 
Adel Al Fadli from Kuwait tweeted:
 
 
“Yes we live in a state of law, but without enforcing the law.”